Hydraulic valve allows easy customisation

A Moog product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jan 17, 2008

Even with advanced electronics on board, the Moog digital interface valve is designed to withstand the temperature and vibration requirements of demanding applications,

The Moog digital interface valve (DIV) is a hydraulic valve with microprocessor-based electronics and fieldbus interfaces.

This valve offers configurable functions that enable customers to define the dynamic behaviour of the valve and adapt its characteristics to particular application requirements, while providing high-precision digital control of pressure and flow.

The DIV also benefits from standard functions such as diagnostic capabilities, integrated monitoring of key environmental and internal characteristics and valve parameter modification and inter-company remote access or on-site access.

The ability to download parameters via the field bus connection or directly from the PLC program enables optimum tuning of valve parameters during the machine cycle, even while the machine is operating.

Even with advanced electronics on board, the digital interface valve is designed to withstand the temperature and vibration requirements of demanding applications, being shock and vibration resistant to 60 and 30g respectively.

Decentralisation allows tasks to be assigned to local devices rather than the main control device, providing customers with increased flexibility and functionality.

By conforming to the CANOpen, Profibus or EtherCAT protocol the DIV has a clearly defined data-exchange mechanism, so compatibility between conforming devices is assured.

Another benefit of the digital interface valve is lower installation costs due to a serial-wiring scheme, which reduces the amount of wiring and improves noise immunity.

Moog engineers developed a Windows-based graphical user interface to allow users to change parameters or characteristics of the valve without detailed knowledge of fieldbus.

This allows designers to focus on the application.

Also used for performing detailed diagnostics and fault finding, this software provides flexibility and convenience for commissioning and service, as well as simplified maintenance.

The DIV is available with a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) sensor integrated for velocity and position control of the valve spool as well as an option for an integrated pressure sensor for pressure control.

Moog Application Engineer, Nick Delport, said: "Distributed servo control through a fieldbus interface is the future of motion control and the DIV's embedded digital microprocessor is the foundation for enhanced functionality and flexibility".

"The digital interface valve is a platform on which future generations of high-performance servo valve control will be based".

Applications for this type of product include the pitch control on wind turbines, providing benefits such as: reduced wiring, stabile signal transport via fieldbus, diagnostics of rotating components and exchange of valves without new adjustments.

The DIV is also at home in paper mills (plungers, pressure control and paper cut movements) and in heavy industry such as optimising machine performance by co-ordinating axis and changing the dynamic parameters of the valves to optimise machine performance without manually recalibrating the machine.